MEXICO CITY: Americans living in Mexico are voting in the US midterms while expressing concerns about political tensions, overseas ballot rules and the future of democracy before Tuesday’s elections.
Voters will decide all 435 House of Representatives seats and 35 of the Senate’s 100 seats on November 3. In Ajijic, a lakeside town in Mexico’s Jalisco state, retired American James Burns said many residents had already voted remotely.
Burns moved from Arizona six years ago. He fears possible violence after the elections and worries about the safety of family and friends in the United States.
Samuel McCree, 45, who moved from Utah to Mexico City two years ago, believes Americans abroad must continue defending democratic institutions. “For a long time, we have taken our democracy for granted,” McCree told CNN.
Voting from Mexico presents practical difficulties. Requirements vary by US state, while postal delays can complicate ballot returns.
Vote From Abroad has helped Americans update their registrations, request ballots and understand state-specific procedures.
McCree gave his ballot to a friend travelling to the United States to post it, citing concerns about Mexico’s postal service.
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Participation remains low. The Federal Voting Assistance Program, part of the US Department of Defense, estimated that around 91,000 voting-age Americans lived in Mexico in 2022. Only 3.1% of eligible voters participated in that year’s midterms.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has changed a federal overseas voting form. It removed an option for citizens who have never lived in the United States. Some people in that category may qualify to vote under state laws.
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The Democratic National Committee has sued the Department of Defence and the Office of Management and Budget over the change. It argues the revision could make registration and ballot requests harder.
Bradley Narduzzi, who has voted from Mexico for two decades, expressed similar concerns about election rules. Although he still trusts the US electoral system, Narduzzi worries about political tensions and growing caution over expressing political opinions.
